Fabric-holding frame for embroidering-machines



(No Model.)

J. IRISH.

FABRIC HOLDING FRAME FOR EMBROID-ERING MACHINES.

No. 471,793. Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 2 I I M20.

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QJOSEPI-I IRISH, or BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,793, dated March'29, 1892.

Application filed May 15, 1891. Serial No. 392,819. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH IRISH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFabric-Holding Frames for Embroidering-Machines; and I do hereby declarethe following to be afull, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inembroidering machines of the general type used in the production ofedging and embroidery upon silk, and in which the fabric is stretchedupon a suitable support for presentation to a multiplie ity of needles;and the object of myinvention is to improve upon the present methods ofinsetting and holding the fabric in the machine, and also to providemeans whereby a piece of goods may be removed from the machine andreturned thereto for the continuation of the pattern, or may beembroidered in part upon one machine and then completedupon anothermachine; and with these ends in view my invention consists in theconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter fully explained,and then recited in the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay fully understand its construction and method of operation, I willdescribe the same in detail, reference being had tothe accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1represents a fabricholder constructed in accordance with my inventionand containing a piece of fabric. Fig. 2 is a detail front elevation ofa portion of the fabricholder; Figs. 3 and 4, end elevations, partly insection, showing the fabric-holder with a piece of goods held therein;and Fig. 5, detail perspectives showing goods with the fastening-cordattached.

The same numerals and letters denote the same parts in all the figures.

In Fig 1 I show a portion of the movable frame which is a constituentelement of ordinary Swiss embroidering-machines. One of the verticalends of the frame is shown in the form of a post or bar 1, its companionbeing naled rollers 2, each having means for hold.- ing it as againstrotation in one directionsuch, for instance, as the ratchet-wheel 3 andthe pawl l-adapted to engage it. All these are common and well known. 5is a bar, in length substantially identical with the rollers 2. Upon itslower edge is formed or secured a tube 6, having either in its outerside or elseomitted. Between these two posts are jourwhere alongitudinal slit 7, extending through- I out its entire length. The endof the tube is flared slightly, as shown at 8, to facilitate theentrance of the fabric. Secured to the bar 5 at short intervals areflexible metallic ribbons 9 or leather or fabric straps or bands, whoseends are adapted to be attached either removably or permanentlyto theroller 2. The foregoing constitutes a complete and operative holdingdevice; but I prefer to provide additional holding means, which consistof a series of perforations extending through the tube from top tobottom and adapted to admit pins 10, for purposes which will presentlybe fully explained. Upon the edge of the fabric (lettered A) or nearsaid edge I stitch acord 11.

In the operation of my invention-I take the fabric, which has attachedthereto the cord, and slip the latter into the flared end of the tubeand then draw it along therein in such manner that the cord will liewithin the tube and wholly or partially fill the same, and the fabricwill protrude through the narrow slit. Where the. cord is stitched uponthe edge, a single fold of the fabric only issues from the slit; butwhere the cord is stitched at a little distance from the edge, as shownat the right hand of Fig. 5, the fabric is doubled over the cord, andthen passed into the tube, where it is held in the manner shown at Fig.4. When the fabric has been inserted, it is drawn smoothly in thedirection of its length to remove any wrinkles or folds, and then thepins 10 may be passed downwardly through the holes in the tube and thefabric and cord therein contained, as shown at Fig. 1. Whenbe taken upby means of the lower roller.@

has been in part embroidered. The needles in ordinaryemb-roidering-machines are set about one and nine-sixteenths inchesapart, and I prefer that the holes for the pins shall correspond withthe spacing of the needles, there being a hole for each needle or foreach alternate needle, as may be found convenient. When a piece of goodshas been embroidered in part upon one machine-and it is desired tocomplete it on another machine, it is difficult to joint the patternsperfectly by the methods now used for holding'the goods. In myirnprovement, however, the fabric may be drawn in and the points for theentry of the needles accurately determined and spaced by the use of theholes as guides, and as fastas adjusted the goods may, if desired, befirmly secured by the pins.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the top and bottom rollers both provided with myimproved form of holder; but the fabric may beattached to one roller,preferably the bottom one, either by winding it upon said roller or :byany other suitable means of attachment. Furthermore, it is not vitalthat the roller provided with .m y holder should be revoluble, as allslack may While I have shown the pins in connection with the other partsand consider them very l useful as accessory thereto, they are not -es-,sential, since the hold .of the slitted tube upon 5 the goods isamplysufficient to retain the J fabric.

I have shown the .cords stitched upon the surface of the fabric; but itwill of coursebe readily apparent that other means can be ,substitutedthereforas, for instance, the edge i presence of two witnesses.

of the cloth may be rolled, thereby forming 1 1. In a machine of thecharacter described,

the combination, with the rollers 2 andmeans for turning and holdingthem, of the bar 5, having upon its lower edge the tube 6, slottedlongitudinally upon its outerside and throughout its entire lengtli,-andmeans, as described, secured at one end thereof to the bar and at theother end thereof-to one of the rollers, whereby the tube may be drawntoward and 7 parallel with the roller for the tautening of the fabric.

2. In a machineof the character described, the combination, with therollers and means for turning and holding them, of the bar 5, havingupon its lower edge the tube 6, slotted longitudinally upon its outerside for its whole length and provided with pin-sockets in its top andbottom,and connecting means, as described, secured at one end thereof tothe bar and at the other end thereof to one of the rollers, and. pins10, adapted to be inserted in the sockets and to hold thefabric withinthe tube, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in JOSEPH IRISH. 4

Witnesses:

SHERMAN HARTWELL HUBBARD. M. O. HINOH-CLIFFE.

